byline:  Michael Prentice
source:  The Ottawa Citizen
date:  Thursday, July 10, 2003

Women are proving more popular than men in the latest Executives on Auction. It is a fundraiser for charity in which people bid to share lunch or dinner with someone prominent in business, the media or entertainment.

So far, the highest bid is $1,500 for a date with perfume creator Randi Shinder.   Second-highest is $500 to meet with Dr. Claudia Chowaniec, president of Precept Inc.   Men in danger of being left on the shelf include Scott Marshall, a big success in the technology world, and CJOH anchor Max Keeping.

Auction organizer John Ernst expects bidding to heat up approaching the noon, July 17th deadline.   To check the bidding, see executivesonauction.com.

Ottawa Buzz

byline:  Michael Prentice
source:  The Ottawa Citizen
date:  Thursday, April 4, 2002

Technology wizard Antoine Paquin is the early leader in an auction of some of the city's top executives. A date with Mr. Paquin is among prizes in Executives on Auction, in which people bid over the Internet to spend time with a well-known figure. Money raised goes to the charities of the executive's choice.

In early bidding, Mr. Paquin attracted the highest offer, $505. He was followed closely by Michael Gerrior, a lawyer with Perley-Robertson Hill & McDougall, for whom the leading bid was $501. Then came Jozef Straus, chief executive of JDS Uniphase, with a bid of $500. He was followed by Coralie Lalaonde, chief executive of Katsura Investments, with a leading bid of $405.

CJOH news anchor Max Keeping recently added his name to those on auction. The auction closes late this month. For details, check executivesonauction.com.

Large photo of Antoine Paquin, with caption: Technology wizard Antoine Paquin, left, has drawn the highest bid so far in the Executives on Auction. A date with Mr. Paquin costs, at press time, $505. Bid online for a chance to spend some time with several area personalities.

Ottawa Buzz

byline:  Michael Prentice
source:  The Ottawa Citizen
date:  Thursday, March 21, 2002

Fancy an evening at the National Arts Centre or an Ottawa Senators hockey game with Antoine Paquin, Jozef Straus or Shirley Westeinde?   They are among prominent people in an upcoming auction to raise funds for charity.

Mr. Paquin and Mr. Straus made fortunes in technology.   Mrs. Westeinde runs a construction company with her husband, John.

People will bid on the Internet to spend an evening with a well-known Ottawa person of their choice, many of them executives of technology companies.   Organizer John Ernst says the auction will begin next Thursday.   Highest price paid in an earlier auction was $1,625 for an outing with Rod Bryden, chief owner of the Ottawa Senators.   All the money goes to charity.  Sponsors, including the Arts Centre and the Senators, donate the tickets.

Among others offering the pleasure of their company this time: Peter Eddison, partner in Reid Eddison; John Reid, executive director of CATA Alliance; and Dr. Claudine Simson, vice-president of Nortel Networks.

To learn more, check www.executivesonauction.com

Photo: of Shirley Westeinde, SVP, Westeinde Construction

Ottawa Buzz

byline:  Michael Prentice
source:  The Ottawa Citizen
date:  Monday, January 29, 2001

How much would you pay for an evening with high-tech superstar Antoine Paquin? Mr. Paquin has just been auctioned off for $950. That is less than the $1,625 winning bid for a golf game with Ottawa Senators owner Rod Bryden or $1,000 each for the pleasure of the company of Rebel.com's Michael Mansfield and one-time prospective CFL team owner Grant White.

The ongoing Internet-based auction is organized by John Ernst and other members of the business community to help people with chronic fatigue syndrome. Among high-profile executives currently on auction are Shirley Westeinde and John Kelly. For information check out www.executivesonauction.com

Ottawa Buzz

byline:  Michael Prentice
source:  The Ottawa Citizen
date:  Monday, August 14, 2000

How much would you pay to play nine holes of golf with a well-known person in aid of charity? That's what organizers of an Executive Golf Auction are about to find out. So far, the highest bidder has offered $1,625 to play with Ottawa Senators chief owner Rod Bryden. In each case, the winning bidder arranges a place, time and date to play with the person on the auction block. The auction, mainly organized by people in high-tech, will benefit those with chronic fatigue syndrome.

The public is not yet familiar with the concept of this new event, in which people bid on the Internet, says organizer John Ernst. Organizers are still signing up participating celebrities, the latest being former governor general Ray Hnatyshyn. Among those on whom bids have already been received, Grant White has attracted the second-highest bid of $1,000. He is the prospective owner of a new professional football team for Ottawa. Now, if only the organizers could get, say, Marlen Cowpland and Alexei Yashin to donate their services. For information on the auction, check www.executivegolfauction.com.